Premise in the Declaration of Independence Argument

He claims that it is the people who are free to form governments and reform these government bodies which they should have control of at all times. “We hold truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are Life, Liberty and pursuit of Happiness” (The Declaration of Independence). By this claim he meant that the Americans were born with a right to life and they were entitled to liberty and happiness as well. In the document, we find the writer using some unstated premises such as “That mankind are more disposed to suffer while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. ” He suggests that evil forced on the Americans were no longer tolerable and revolution was necessary.

Naturally, human beings avoid danger and try as much as possible to prevent injuries and death. Therefore, the colonists were being mistreated and they had to break away from the British Empire which was the authority then. Religion is the belief in the higher power which in this case is God. The writer refers to God as having entitled them nature. He uses the higher authority and is effective in driving his point to the readers because the reader finds it more acceptable. He talks about how King George hired military troops who were of foreign decent to go and fight the colonists. “He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the work of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty &Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head a civilized nation” (The Declaration of Independence).

The writer goes on to say how the means used by the king, employing militia, was not appropriate at that time and era especially in a nation which has civilized people. From this we find the writer is trying to tell the audience that there are other means of driving a point or governance other than war. The writer appeals to the emotions of the reader by stating the cruelties that the King was perpetrating upon the colonists. Moreover, his diction while composing the text adds meaning to the overall message. Example, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal” the way he puts his word makes the reader think that these are facts in order to support his premise that colonists should be fairly treated.

Moreover, He uses the word Prudence in his argument. “Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed…” (The Declaration of Independence) Jefferson uses this word to put more emphasis that it is common sense that the government which has been long established cannot be changed because of simple cases and then goes further ahead to mention the conditions under which a government is supposed to be changed. Through this, the message becomes more appealing as the audience are challenged to reason and this makes their cause for independence more credible. ” (The Declaration of Independence). Found in the last paragraph, it is full of emotion and the reader can picture Jefferson saying the words. He brings the reader to understand that the American people must build a new government and be free from Britain colonial rule.

I consider the argument sound because the writer has deductively structured his text and stated his arguments objectively. The main premise in the text is that human beings are free people who were created by God and given right to live, liberty and pursuit of happiness.